San Diego Regional Energy Innovation Cluster
This project will provide customized entrepreneurial services; including education/training, business development, testing facilities, and advisory support to the San Diego region.
Cleantech San Diego Association
Recipient
San Diego, CA
Recipient Location
39th
Senate District
77th
Assembly District
$7,518,636
Amount Spent
Active
Project Status
Project Update
By the end of 2025 SCEIN is supporting 33 active member companies in the program. Since acceptance into the SCEIN program, member companies have raised a total of $234 million in private capital and $66 million in public funding, for a total of $300 million. Additionally, SCEIN companies had 28 new patents approved over this period, bringing the total patents approved to 386. The program continues to host webinars, workshops, and other networking events aimed at supporting their member companies and sharing knowledge with interested stakeholders.
The Issue
This project addresses issues in California’s clean tech startup space by providing critical commercialization support and resources that many early-stage energy innovators lack. Through SCEIN, the program offers entrepreneurs access to education, training, testing facilities, business development assistance, and capital connections. It also creates customized service plans to overcome barriers such as limited market access, lack of funding, and insufficient technical validation. Additionally, the project strengthens regional collaboration among public, private, and academic partners, expands outreach to underserved communities, and promotes equity and diversity within the clean tech sector. These efforts collectively accelerate technology deployment, foster job creation, and ensure that clean energy benefits reach all Californians
Project Innovation
This project supports and aligns with innovations in clean energy technologies that address regional energy needs and advance California’s decarbonization goals. Specifically, it focuses on accelerating the commercialization of emerging technologies through customized entrepreneurial services such as education, training, testing facilities, and capital connections.
Project Goals
Project Benefits
The project delivers benefits by improving electricity reliability, reducing costs, and enhancing safety for California ratepayers through the development and commercialization of innovative energy technologies tailored to regional needs. It fosters technological breakthroughs by providing entrepreneurs with customized support services such as training, testing facilities, and capital connections, while promoting economic growth and job creation in Southern California. Additionally, the program advances climate equity by engaging underserved communities and encouraging diversity among participating startups, ensuring that clean energy opportunities and benefits are accessible to all Californians.
Economic Development
Customized support for energy entrepreneurs, including education, training, business development, testing facilities, and capital connections. Promotion of economic growth and job creation in Southern California.
Equity
78 percent of SCEIN companies have female, minority, or veteran representation on their C-Suite leadership teams.
Key Project Members
Zac Dobbin
Iliana Kenyon
Subrecipients
University of California, Riverside
San Diego State University Foundation
The Regents of the University of California, on behalf of the San Diego campus
Center for Sustainable Energy
California State University San Marcos
University of San Diego
CONNECT
San Diego Venture Group
Imperial Valley Economic Development Corporation
Inland Empire Economic Partnership
Match Partners
University of California, Riverside
San Diego State University Foundation
The Regents of the University of California, on behalf of the San Diego campus
University of San Diego
Cleantech San Diego Association
CONNECT
